Welcome back to school! I hope students have enjoyed themselves in the first term holiday break and prepared themselves well for study in the new term.
Let me begin by welcoming new families to the College. I want you to know that you are most welcome, and I am sure new students will find their fellow students ready to welcome them and make sure that they settle in well.
Term 1 was a very busy term and finished with special ANZAC and Easter services on the last day of the term. This term is, if anything, even more busy and includes exams for many students. I have no doubt that many of you are already preparing to make this term a special one. As Term 1 finished, I received an email from ACARA, The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, congratulating our College on having demonstrated substantially above average gain in reading and/or numeracy achievement, as measured by NAPLAN.
This is wonderful news to receive and I congratulate the students and teachers on achieving this commendation which acknowledges schools that have shown significant improvement Australia wide.
That’s now in the past. Starting today, what can you do for your child’s future and what can students do for their own future?
I would like to encourage you to support your child in developing the following mindset:
The future is now. That means that your future depends on what you attempt today. You are all capable students and you all have great God-given potential. So, trust yourselves, dare to dream and fly towards your dreams!
We all know that empty slogans result only in empty life. So, you should have good planning. Be sure to set clear, concrete and achievable goals for yourselves.
A healthy mindset is also essential. No matter how well you have planned, you should have the courage to accept failure. Perhaps you failed a test and therefore are frustrated, but never give up. Do not forget your dream and the fact that you still can make a smart choice and learn from failure, find out the key problem and then, overcome it when it occurs again.
Let us work together, students, parents and teachers, hand-in-hand in this big family!
Let us never forget our school motto; Wisdom is of God. In Proverbs 9:11-12, I read:
“Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer”
Further, we should also remember what the apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
What do I think excellence will look like for us as a community this term? You will be self-disciplined and polite to the staff, your classmates and also your schoolmates. You will be caring, say hello to people you meet every day, showing your smiles and concern to others.
Together, we can strive for excellence, and at the same time, we can live with love and care. I firmly believe we can all do that!
Finally, my thanks to all my colleagues and, I believe, with their devotion and support, our students will have a very enjoyable and fruitful second term. Once again, I remind you to strive to be excellent members of the Swan community.
May God bless you all.
Mr Adrian Scott
Principal